Electrocapillary detector and recording apparatus.



NR 848,083. PATENTED AR. 26, 1907.

A J. 1.. ARMSTRONG & A. ORLING. BLECTROGAPILLARY DETECTOR AND RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLIQATION FILED AUG. 31, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1. v

QA AK No. 848,083. PATENTED MAR. 26, 190.7. J. T. ARMSTRONG & A. ORLING.

ELEUTROCAPILLARY DETECTOR AND RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 21 MM QAAW I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES TARBOTTON ARMSTRONG AND AXEL ORLING. or LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTROCAPILLARY' DETECTOR ANDVBECYORDING JAPPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, JAMES TARBOTTON ARMS TRONG, a subject of the King of England, and AXEL 'ORLING, a subject of the Kin provements in and Relating to Electrocapil- 'lary Detectors and Recording Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification.

'Our invention relates to electrocapillary apparatus of the kind described in the specifications to British Patent N 0. 21,981, dated October 31', 1901, and Nos. 2,053 and 2,053", both dated January 28, 1903, and has for its object improvements whereby the direction of the current or difference of potential isv shown and may be recorded.

In carrying out the first part of our invention we employtwo electrocapillary elements constructed substantially as described in the specifications hereinbefore referred to, which are connected up reversely in one circuit. These electrocapillary elements may be arranged in parallel circuit or in series.

In carrying out the second part ofour invention we employ one or more beams of light whose direction is such as to be interrupted by the mercury displaced by electro capillary action, butwhich are normally allowed to fall upon a traveling-sensitizedsurface w'hereon'one or more lines are printed photographically, the continuity ofwhich lines is interrupted when ,signals are received.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we will now proceed to particu larly describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which v Figures 1, 2, and 3 are diagrams showing different arrangements of our 1mproved'elec trocapillary apparatus. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the recording apparatus. I Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of'a detail thereof, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan showing the general arrangement of the apparatus.

According to the construction shown in Fig. 1 we employ two mercury-chambersc, each of which is provided with a tubular part f, terminating in a constricted or capillary end h, through which the mercury e is under normal conditions prevented from flowing, owing to the capillary force due to its surface tension being greater. than thehy- I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 31; 1904. serial N01 222, 09.

of Sweden, both residingtat London, England, have invented new and useful Im- Patented March 26, 1907.

drostatic pressure of the superincumbent column of mercury. The capillary ends of these-tubular parts are immersed in a dissimilar conduct-ing fluid (1, such as a solution of sulfuric acid and water, contained by a chamberb, by means of which the-mercury in the tubular parts is electrically connected.

the dilute acid is, as is also Well knownfln-v creased, causing the mercury to recedev from the capillary end of the tubular partthat contains it. f According to the construction shown in Fig. 2 we employ one mercury-chamber 0, having two tubular parts ff, each terminating in acapillary end h, which we immerse in different chambers b 1), containing dilute acid or other suitable'dissimilar fluid conductor d.

. The terminals 1 of the apparatus are con- In this case the dilute acid 'd in each of the According to the construction shown in Fig. 3 We employ two mercury-chambers c 6, each having a tubular part f, provided with a taining dilute sulfuric acid (1, (or another suitable dissimilar fluid conductor,) into which the tubular parts are respectively ims mersed, thus forming two distinct electrocapillary elements a a These are connected in parallel circuit, the 'dilute acid (1 of tlielement a and the mercury e of the other element a being connected to one of the ter minals 'i of the apparatus, while the other mercury and dilute-acid chambers are connected to the other terminal Thus when one terminal of any of these apparatus is positive mercury will flow from one of the tubular parts, whereas if the potentials be reversed the mercury will flow from the other.

capillary end it, and two. chambers 15 b 0011- I Preferably the capillary ends of the tubular parts f are connected with their respective lenses 1" or reflectors 8 (see Fig. 6) in conjunc mercury-chambers e by means of an indiarubber or other suitable flexible connection f (shown in Fig. 2) that will admit of the adj ustment of the height of the said chamber in any well-known or suitable manner independently of its respective capillary end h. The chambers b b that contain the dissimilar fluid conductor (Z are also preferably provided with a mercury-overflow I) (see Fig- 2) to permit the excess of mercury delivered into it to run away. This outlet is sealed by the mercuryc at the bottom of the said chambers b b, which prevents the escape of the lighter fluid conductor.

In order to make a record of signals received when our detector is employed for telegraphic and analogous purposes, we employ a sensitized. tape Z. In practice a roll m of this tape Z is journaled in'a light-proof box n, from which it is drawn at a suitable speed by a clockwork or other suitable niotor (not shown) past a screen 0, formed by one of the walls of the boX n. This screen is provided with two pin holes p 1), located side by side and in such a position as to allow the light of a lamp or other convenient source Q to fall upon the traveling sensitized tape Z.

We may in some cases employ one or more tion with one or more lamps or the like q to concentrate or focus-the light at one or more points for this purpose.

Between the lamp and the screen we locate our electrocapillary detector, which we so arrange that the mercur delivered by one of the tubular parts f will close one of the holes p in the screen 0 to the beam of light,

while the mercury from the other tubular part will similarly close the other hole. For this purpose the chamber b is made of a suitable translucent material, such as glass, and

the capillary ends it ofthe tubular parts f are 1 brought as near to the screen 0 as is possible and are in some cases bent toward it, as is shown by dotted lines in 4. By these means a photographic record is produced upon the traveling tape consisting of two 2 lines, the continuity of which is broken by 3 the received signals. After passing the screen 5 the tape maybe led around a rod or roller t,

immersed inabath u, of developing solution,

from which it is drawn and thereafter similarly led around another rod or roller o, immersed in a washing-bath w, whereafter it is similarly drawn through a bath as, of fixing solution, and afterward washed in a bath. y.

scribed and shown.

According to the arrangement shown in may also use one or more lenses, such as are shown at 1", to focus or concentrate the beams of light on the apertures 19 p.

Instead of the reflectors s we may employ suitable prisms.

In some cases we employ a second screen 2, having apertures opposite those in the screen 0. I

l/Ve. may also in some cases employ only one, source of li ht g (see dotted lines in Fig. 6,) in WhiCi'GELSG the apertures in the screen or screens and thecapillary end of the tubular partsf are so located as to be in the path of a ray emanating from that source.

It is obvious'that we may employ our improved photographic recording device in conjunction with a single electrocapillary element such, for instance, as is described in the specifications hereinbeforo referred to-- and in some cases we may dispense with the sensitized surface and cause the beam of light to fall upon a Hat surface or screen, from i which it may be observed.

It is also obvious that any desired number of detectors may be actuated by the received signals, and so caused to operate a correspondin'g numberof relays or recorders.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In electrocapillary apparatus, the combination of an electrocapillary element with a second electrocapillary element and elec- ,tric conductors constituting means ofconducting a positive electric charge to the mer curycolumn of' one of the said elements when the mercury-column of the other is negatively charged substantially as set forth.

2. In electrocapillary apparatus the combination of an electrocapillary element with a second electrocapillary element, an electric conductor connected with the mercury-eolumn of one of the said electrocapillary elements and the electrolyte of the other and a secondelectric conductor connected to the opposite terminals of the said electrocapil lary elements substantially as set forth.

' 3. In electrocapillary apparatus, the com bination of an electrocapillary element with a second electrocapillary element and electric conductors connected thereto constituting means of conducting an. electric charge to the said elements to cause an electrocapillary flow of, mercury from one or the other of them substantially as set forth 4. In electrocapillary apparatus, a mercury-chamber a tubular part depending therefrom, a capillary end, a flexible tube to i connect such capillary end to the mercury- We do not, however, restrict ourselves to the Fig. 6 two sources of light (full lines) may 1 be employed inconjunction with reflectors s s, which may be plane or lenticular. We

chamber a body of electrolyte with which the mercury in the capillary end makes contact, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In electrocapillary recording apparatus, the combination with a traveling sensitized surface and one or more beams of light which normally fall thereon with one or more elec- 1 for the purpose'set forth.

fed past the apertures t ierein with one or placement of the mercury takes place to protroeapillary elements adaptedto intercept such beams of light when a displacement of the mercury takes place substantially as and 6. In electrocapillary recording apparatus the combination of a light-proof chamber, one or rnore apertures therein, one or more beams of light adapted to pass through such apertures and a sensitized. surface located within said light-proof chamber and fed past the apertures therein with one or more electrocapill'ary elements adapted to intercept such beams of light when a displacement of the mercury takes place to produce a record substantially as set forth.

7. In electrocapillary recording apparatus, the combination of a light-proof chamber, one or more apertures therein, a screen provided with corresponding apertures, one or more beams of light adapted to pass through such apertures and a sensitized surface 10- 1 rated Within said light- )roof chamber and i more electrocapillary:elements adapted to ntercept such beams of-light when a disduce a record substantially as set forth.

8. In electrocapillary record ng apparatus, the combination of a light-proof chamber,

one or more apertures therein, a" screen provided with corresponding apertures, one orv more beams'of light adapted to pass through such apertures and a sensitized surface located within said light-proof chamber and fed past the apertures therein with one or more electrocapillary elements adapted to intercept such beams of light when a displz'ieen'ient of the mercury takes place to produre a record, baths containing developing and fixing solutions and water respectively and means of drawing-the sensitized tape therethrough, substantially as set forth.

' 9. In electrocapillary recording apparatus, the combination of a light-proof chamber,

-one or more apertures therein, a-scre'en proing solutions and water respectively and means of drawing the sensitized tape therethrough, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signedour names to this specification in the presence-of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES 'IMIBOT'ION ARMSTRONG. AXEL 'ORLING.

\Vitnesses A. M. BIRD, EDGAR A. GoDmN. 

